academics

The mission of the academic program is to prepare students for college and life as a creative professional.

Academic instructional environments encourage inquiry and intellectual curiosity, and empower students to raise questions and develop a pattern of lifelong learning. Students enjoy small class sizes, multiple AP options and innovative lessons taught by fully licensed teachers. Curriculum is active, collaborative, and aligned with state standards. Students self-select on-level or advanced and AP options.

HIGH STANDARDS

ASSESSMENTS
SPCPA measures student mastery of the standards through state and local assessments.
ALIGNED
The Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists aligns with Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
PREPARED
Students engage daily in academic programming to meet graduation requirements, as determined by the state of Minnesota and Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, and prepare for the college or post-secondary conservatory program of their choice. All academic teachers hold licenses granted by the Minnesota Board of Teaching.
STUDENT-CENTERED
Students are given opportunities to drive their learning process. The focus of the activity in the classroom is on the student, not the teacher.
ACTIVE
Students learn through discussions, problem solving, case studies, role playing and other methods. Active learning approaches place a greater degree of responsibility on the learner than passive approaches such as lectures.
HANDS-ON
As much as possible, learning is experiential. Students learn by doing.
INQUIRY-BASED
“Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer” - Rainer Maria Rilke
PROBLEM SOLVING
Obstacles are inspiration.
THOUGHT PROVOKING
A primary purpose of the academic program is to stimulate deeper thinking and more sophisticated questions.
COLLABORATIVE
Students work together to consider questions, solve problems, and leverage the unique strengths and perspectives of each member of a group.
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quick links

Registration Resources

Four Year Academic Planning Guide
 

Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments

CLICK HERE for Minnesota Report Card including detailed MCA scores
 

Academic Course Guide

CLICK HERE for the 2023-2024 Academic Program Guide
 

Testing Information

CLICK HERE to view our academic year testing calendar
CLICK HERE to view the MDE Parent/Guardian Guide and Refusal for Student Participation in Statewide Testing
 

ACADEMICS HAPPENINGS

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TONIGHT! SPCPA Seniors are hosting information tables to share their knowledge and experiences on postsecondary planning and college applications. Not sure if college is right for you? Come check out some options and chat with students about alternative pathways.

#spcpaacademics #spcpaarts
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TONIGHT!  SPCPA Seniors are hosting information tables to share their knowledge and experiences on postsecondary planning and college applications. Not sure if college is right for you? Come check out some options and chat with students about alternative pathways.

#spcpaacademics #spcpaarts

It's not just the arts classes that have guest speakers and master classes. This past Friday, Ms. Lohman's Psychology classes welcomed Christina Miller – she works as a high risk prenatal genetic counselor, helping families understand their risk of inherited conditions and providing support for patients and families. She ran through a mock session with Ms Lohman to determine her cancer susceptibility. Thank you, Ch#spcpaacademicsaacademics See MoreSee Less

Its not just the arts classes that have guest speakers and master classes.  This past Friday, Ms. Lohmans Psychology classes welcomed Christina Miller - she works as a high risk prenatal genetic counselor, helping families understand their risk of inherited conditions and providing support for patients and families. She ran through a mock session with Ms Lohman to determine her cancer susceptibility.  Thank you, Christina!

#spcpaacademics

Today is the annual Short Film Festival in English 12! In addition to learning vocabulary to discuss a filmmaker's choices with more sophistication, students created their own short films. Check out a few sneak peek stills from their wo#spcpaacademicsemics See MoreSee Less

Today is the annual Short Film Festival in English 12!  In addition to learning vocabulary to discuss a filmmakers choices with more sophistication, students created their own short films. Check out a few sneak peek stills from their work!

#spcpaacademicsImage attachmentImage attachment+4Image attachment

Spanish 2 students last week participated in a ‘Dress as Your Favorite Hero" project. After learning clothing vocabulary and sharing out in Spanish why they admired their character, students created a fashion show in which they had to choose their clothes, style, and background music for their Spanish presentation.

#spcpaacademics
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Spanish 2 students last week participated in a ‘Dress as Your Favorite Hero project.  After learning clothing vocabulary and sharing out in Spanish why they admired their character, students created a fashion show in which they had to choose their clothes, style, and background music for their Spanish presentation. 

#spcpaacademicsImage attachmentImage attachment

The Black Student union (BSU) went exploring for artistic inspiration on their field trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Art this past week. They will be using the inspiration they gathered from a plethora of artwork to inform their performance in February.

#spcpacommunity #spcpaacademics #BSU
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The Black Student union (BSU) went exploring for artistic inspiration on their field trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Art this past week. They will be using the inspiration they gathered from  a plethora of artwork to inform their performance in February. 

#spcpacommunity #spcpaacademics #bsu

This past week was the annual "Trial of Genghis Khan" in Taylor Lohman's AP World History class. The prosecution was tasked with proving Khan was guilty of excessive brutality and crimes against humanity. For those wondering, he found was guilty on the count of Crimes Against Humanity and innocent on the count of Excessive Brutality. It was very close, the defense had a strong closing statement!

#spcpaacademics #spcpa #artshighschool #saintpaulconservatory #apworldhistory
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This past week was the annual Trial of Genghis Khan in Taylor Lohmans AP World History class. The prosecution was tasked with proving Khan was guilty of excessive brutality and crimes against humanity. For those wondering, he found was guilty on the count of Crimes Against Humanity and innocent on the count of Excessive Brutality. It was very close, the defense had a strong closing statement! 

#spcpaacademics #spcpa #artshighschool #saintpaulconservatory #apworldhistoryImage attachmentImage attachment

Our Independent Research & Design seniors presented their topic proposals earlier this week, adapting their formal written structure to shorter, more conversational speeches. Come check out their projects-in-process (when school resumes) in Ms. Johnson's room!

#spcpaacademics
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Our Independent Research & Design seniors presented their topic proposals earlier this week, adapting their formal written structure to shorter, more conversational speeches. Come check out their projects-in-process (when school resumes) in Ms. Johnsons room!

#spcpaacademicsImage attachment

This past week, in Natalie Reinhart's AP Comparative Government class, students conducted their own version of the U.K. government's weekly Prime Minister's Questions. Students represented 4 different parties, with the majority Conservative Party having to field over 30 minutes of questions about the U.K.'s economy, health care system, climate policy, and i#spcpaacademicsc#SPCPAp#APGovtemics #SPCPA #APGovt See MoreSee Less

This past week, in Natalie Reinharts AP Comparative Government class, students conducted their own version of the U.K. governments weekly Prime Ministers Questions. Students represented 4 different parties, with the majority Conservative Party having to field over 30 minutes of questions about the U.K.s economy, health care system, climate policy, and immigration policy.

#spcpaacademics #SPCPA #APGovtImage attachmentImage attachment
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